Slow Cooker Tips: 6 Easy Ways to Maximize Flavor and Get the Most from Your Crock Pot

If you are trying to get away from today's preservative-laden fast food and convenience foods, it's time to rediscover your slow cooker.

5. Experiment with fresh herbs. Few things add more savory flavor to a meal than fresh herbs. Use fresh herbs in the place of dried herbs in your recipes,If you are trying to get away from today's preservative-laden fast food and convenience foods, it's time to rediscover your slow cooker.The best thing about a slow cooker, of course, is that it frees you to do other things while the food is cooking. You can place all of the ingredients into your crock pot or other slow cooker, and your food will be ready and waiting when you arrive home.6. Try to avoid opening the lid. When you open the lid of a crock pot, you let out the steam and moisture, and this will change your cooking time (by as much as 20 minutes). It's important to follow the recipe closely, add each ingredient when the recipe calls for it � and then leave your slow cooker alone!1. Use a recipe specifically created for slow cookers. If you are dying to convert a traditional recipe to a slow cooking recipe, there are some rules to follow. For example, unless you're making soup, you'll typically want to decrease the amount of liquid you add. Because a slow cooker retains moisture, you can sometimes end up with more liquid at the end of the cooking time than you had when you started and this can dilute the flavors of your dish.2. Caramelize onions and brown meat beforehand. Many slow cooker recipes call for you to put all of the ingredients into the crock pot raw � and that's perfectly fine to do. In fact, that's going to be the most efficient way to go, if you are using your slow cooker as the ultimate time saving device that it is. But you can dramatically enhance the flavor of your final dish by browning your meat or chicken and sauteing your onions before you add them to the pot. This step also reduces some of the fat content of your recipe.Slow cookers aren't just for grandmothers. On a busy day, who doesn't love to come home in the evening to a hot already-prepared meal? Whether it's a succulent pot roast, savory tender chicken or a simple casserole, slow cookers create amazing aromas and even better meals � and many slow cooker recipes make enough food to feed your entire family (and then some).and add additional fresh herbs to taste. Fresh basil often complements Italian dishes. Rosemary and thyme taste delightful with pot roast. Experiment and find what works for you and your taste buds.4. Cut your vegetables into small pieces. Unless you like your vegetables on the crunchy side, cut them into smaller pieces. Put potatoes, carrots and other root vegetables on the bottom or against the sides of the pot. (This will ensure that they get maximum heat.) Again, you can also saute onions before adding them, if you find you prefer this taste.3. Less expensive cuts of meat work just fine. When you are slow cooking, you can choose the cheaper cuts, such as chuck steak. Because the meat is cooked slowly over time, these less expensive cuts will melt in your mouth by the time they are finished.Here are six tips for creating delicious home-cooked meals in your crock pot.5. Experiment with fresh herbs. Few things add more savory flavor to a meal than fresh herbs. Use fresh herbs in the place of dried herbs in your recipes, and add additional fresh herbs to taste. Fresh basil often complements Italian dishes. Rosemary and thyme taste delightful with pot roast. Experiment and find what works for you and your taste buds.

and add additional fresh herbs to taste. Fresh basil often complements Italian dishes. Rosemary and thyme taste delightful with pot roast. Experiment and find what works for you and your taste buds.

Classic Comfort

(Family Features) Ah, comfort food. Simple, hearty dishes full of flavor and good memories. There's nothing quite like sitting down to one of these family favorites after a long day. Somehow, it just makes everything seem better.

Serving suggestion: Serve with a mixed green salad and your favorite fresh fruit.Heat oven to 375°F.

Brown meat in heavy medium ovenproof skillet; drain. Return meat to skillet; stir in frozen vegetables and gravy.To cook food safely, manufacturers and the USDA recommend that the slow cooker be filled between half- and two-thirds full. Ground meats, poultry and sausage must be completely cooked before you place them in the slow cooker. Brown in a skillet over medium heat. Don't open the lid during the cooking process -- each peek adds an additional 15 to 20 minutes of cooking time. Dairy products tend to break down in a slow cooker, so only add them during the last 15 minutes of cooking. For high altitude cooking, add an additional 30 minutes for each hour of time specified in the recipe.Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot over biscuits. Refrigerate leftovers.Substitute: Substitute 1 pound Bob Evans Original Roll Sausage for the ground beef.Spray interior of slow cooker with non-stick vegetable spray.

In medium skillet over medium heat, crumble and cook sausage until brown. Place in slow cooker.In skillet over medium heat crumble and cook sausage and onions until brown. Stir in BBQ sauce.

Lay 2 tortillas on a flat surface. Top each with ¼ cup cheese.Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1712969Add elbow macaroni and stir well. Recover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until macaroni is tender.Slow Cooker TipsFor additional simple comfort food recipes, visit www.bobevans.com .Combine potatoes and cheese; spread over meat mixture. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through and lightly browned.Five minutes before serving, top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Cover to melt cheese.These recipes take some classic comfort foods and make them a little easier to prepare -- which means you get to enjoy them even more.Serve topped with cheddar cheese.About Family Features Editorial Syndicate This and other food and lifestyle content can be found at www.editors.familyfeatures.com . Family Features is a leading provider of free food and lifestyle content for use in print and online publications. Register with no obligation to access a variety of formatted and unformatted features, accompanying photos, and automatically updating Web content solutions.Heat large skillet over medium heat. Add a small amount of oil to coat bottom of skillet. Cook one quesadilla at a time until golden brown on each side, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Cut into wedges and serve with sour cream and salsa.Crumble and cook sausage in large skillet over medium heat until browned.

Stir in flour until dissolved. Gradually stir in milk. Cook gravy until thick and bubbly.Wendy MacDonald wmacdonald@familyfeatures.com 1-888-824-3337 ext. 235 http://editors.familyfeatures.comDivide sausage mixture between the two. Sprinkle each with ¼ cup cheese. Top with remaining tortillas.No-Fuss Italian: Everybody's favorite pasta dish gets an easy makeover with this Slow Cooker Lasagna. No fussing with cooked noodles, no layering, no worries. Put the ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning and sit down to a delicious Italian dinner once everybody's home. Wake-Up Call: Biscuits with Sausage and Gravy is a classic weekend breakfast or brunch. Using flavorful Bob Evans Sausage, you can have a hearty breakfast ready in just minutes. Lip-Smacking Lunch: Forget about a plain sandwich -- warm things up with tasty BBQ Quesadillas. Simple Supper: The humble Shepherd's Pie gets even easier to make with this Shepherd's Pie Skillet recipe. One quick-fix secret? Using Bob Evans Original Mashed Potatoes means no peeling, no boiling and no mashing. Weeknight Special: When the kids are craving something warm and cheesy, this Cheesy Chili Mac really hits the spot.In large saucepan, over medium heat, crumble and cook sausage, onion and green peppers until sausage is browned.

Stir in tomato sauce, tomatoes, water, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

Wendy MacDonald wmacdonald@familyfeatures.com 1-888-824-3337 ext. 235 http://editors.familyfeatures.com

Easy Comfort Food

January always seems to be the month that creates the desire for food that is warm, comforting and easy to fix. After all the more complicated and rich foods of the holiday season it seems that simple and warming are the kinds of foods we are all in the mood to eat. The weather also dictates that soups and stews are appropriate additions to our menus. They are easy to prepare, warming to our cold bodies and they invite us to stay indoors in our kitchens.

2. Cover and cook on low for 5-7 hours until potatoes pierce easily with a fork and chicken is done.� 2 cups 1% percent milk� � tsp. no salt seasoning (or more to taste)� 1/3 cup flourMakes 8 servings� 1 cup diced carrotsChicken and Corn Chowder4. Uncover and cook on high for 10 minutes or until chowder has thickened and potato flakes have thoroughly dissolved.� 1 tsp. no-salt seasoningNote: This may be halved for a smaller slow cooker. To make on the stove top add about � cup more liquid. The test for doneness would be the same.� � cup diced onion� � tsp. pepper� 1 cup diced celeryCheesy Chicken Chowder� 2 cups diced cooked chicken� 2 cups 1% milk� 1 cup dried potato flakes� 1 lb. uncooked, boneless chicken breasts cut into 1� pieces� � cup butterThe second recipe was found in a newspaper supplement several years ago. It is truly comfort food and most delicious.� � tsp. black pepper� 1 cup finely shredded carrots1. Bring chicken broth to a boil in a medium stock pot. Reduce heat and add potatoes, carrots, celery, onion , no salt seasoning and pepper. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.2. Melt butter in a saucepan. Add flour and blend well. Gradually stir in milk and cook over low heat until thickened. Stir in cheese and cook until melted. Add cheese mixture to the broth and vegetable mixture stirring well. Add chicken cooking and stirring over low heat until thoroughly heated.� 1 cup onion, chopped� 4 15 ounce cans cream style corn� 2 cups peeled and diced potatoes� 2 cups potatoes, peeled and cut into ��chunksLast year about this time I shared some of my family�s favorite potato recipes. These recipes were simple, made us feel good because they were part of our family�s recipe collection and just warmed us up. I have a couple of new recipes that are not based on just the potato but they do have potato in them. One of them is a slow cooker recipe but can easily be adapted to the stove top.A good rule of thumb when adapting a recipe from slow cooker to stove top is to increase the liquid. I would not add too much more liquid in the slow cooker recipe as it would make it too soupy. The following recipe may be cut in half.� 2 14 ounce cans low sodium chicken brothServes 8-10� 2 cups grated cheddar cheese� 1 cup chicken broth3. Add potato flakes and stir well.

Makes 8 servings

Author: Jan Duggan

There Is More Then One Way To Prepare the Perfect Swiss Steak

More than likely your recipe will call for either round or chuck steak, but you can also use cube steak.

Yawn. It needed to be more dynamic. Here�s what I came up with:I had a client recently, a long-time elementary school art teacher, who�d hired me for general consult on her unfolding self-publishing process. She�d created a wonderful book � an artistic resource (�idea book�) for young people designed to spur their unique creative expression through a host of fun, unusual artistic techniques as well as all the necessary supply lists and �how-to.� Early on, she�d named this seven-year labor of love:Promise, Then ElaborateArt Sparks! A Creative Adventure to Inspire Young ArtistsAvis. We try harder.Virginia is for lovers. Now, pour the mushrooms and tomato sauce on top. Kind of level the ingredients and bake covered for 1 � hours at 350 degrees. This recipe can also be prepared on top of the stove just as easy. Just remember to check on it and be sure that the liquid is not evaporating.When I created my title, I kept in mind the promise, and I say I could have done a lot worse than The Well-Fed Writer (a detailed how-to guide on starting a �commercial� writing business � writing for corporations, where the income potential money was FAR greater than typical �freelance writing�).Delta. We�re ready when you are.Place the steak into a baking dish top with the onion slice.The type of steak you use is entirely up to your palate. Swiss steak can also be either baked in the oven, cooked in a slow cooker or crockpot, or even cooked in a large skillet on top of the stove.

Serve with salad and (baked) potatoes.

Author: Hans Dekker

How to Make Your Book Title a �Promise�

Got a Non-Fiction Book? Tell Your Reader What�s In It for Them!

GE. We bring good things to life.Not a promise in a strict sense, but in way, the feeling it evoked was.Burger King. Have it your way.One Path And 101 Pointers For Discovering Fresh IdeasIf you like your Swiss Steak a bit spiecier, try this one. You will need:

• round or chuck steak, (tenderize the steak first),
• 15 ounce can of tomato sauce,
• 1 large onion sliced,
• 2 tablespoons of vinegar, and
• 8 ounces of your favorite picante sauce or salsa.

Now, someone can look at the title and know instantly what the book is about and the benefits they�ll get from reading it.What do they all have in common? They�re promises. They tell you what you can count on. Same with a brand. Think Dove soap. Tiffany�s. Volvo. IBM. Any doubt as to the promise in those brands? Keep this in mind as you create your book title.If you�re writing non-fiction, your title and subtitle are as crucially important as a great-looking cover. And in many respects, a title is similar to a corporate tagline, something I have a good bit of experience through my commercial writing career. Let�s look at some famous taglines:UNSTUCK! Kick Down Those Roadblocks and Finish Your Novel Now!Serve with salad and (baked) potatoes.For the first recipe you will need the following ingredients:

• a covered baking dish,
• 2 pounds of steak,
• salt, pepper,
• garlic powder,
• 1 onion sliced,
• 4 ounce can of drained mushrooms, and
• 1 15 ounce can of tomato sauce.

Writing Your Novel: A Quick and Easy Guide to Getting It DoneKnow what the #1 best-selling trade paperback of 2002 was, according to Publishers Weekly? A cookbook! And one that sold 1.8 million copies. Title: The Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook: Feasting With Your Slow Cooker. (Authors: Dawn J. Ranck and Phyllis Pellman Good). Now is that a promise or what?by Peter BowermanWell, when I told him his title needed work, he wasn�t exactly overjoyed. I must confess, I felt a bit like the parent telling his daughter that, despite the fact that the wedding is two weeks away, invitations sent, and caterer, florist, photographer and band paid for, I thought her intended betrothed is a loser and it�s not too late to call it off. Here was a book � a really good, interesting, valuable and yes, creative book � purporting to help people be more creative, and its title simply wasn�t.*************The first step is to cut your steak into serving sizes, season the steaks with the salt, pepper, and garlic powder.If you decide to try to prepare one on your stove top use any of the recipes that you find, just cook on the stove top and check often.Again, a promise. And while she liked it, she initially resisted it, more out of attachment and inertia. But, she quickly realized that she needed to think of her buyer, and came to love it as she saw that it truly captured her heartfelt mission for the book.NOTE: the following suggestions apply to non-fiction works.Can�t land a publisher? Do it yourself, and make a living from it! Check out a free report on self-publishing at www.wellfedsp.com, home of author Peter Bowerman�s award-winning 2007 release, The Well-Fed Self-Publisher: How to Turn One Book into a Full-Time Living.(Adapted from The Well-Fed Self-Publisher: How to Turn One Book into a Full-Time Living, by Peter Bowerman. Fanove, 2007. www.wellfedsp.com).These Swiss steak recipes call for them to be baked in the oven, but you can also prepare them in the above mentioned ways.ZING! Five Steps & 101 Tips for Creativity on CommandAnother Case StudyThe Color Book: A Book of Ideas to Inspire Young ArtistsIn another case, I was hired to mentor a new self-publishing author, an ad industry veteran who�d written book on creativity. While he wanted to tap my expertise on a variety of nuts and bolts issues, in his mind, his cover artwork (and photography) was paid for and nailed down, along with, of course, his title, too:He took my advice, revisited the idea, he and I and a bunch of his friends (via email) brainstormed a bunch of jazzier titles, and here�s what he ended up with:Speaking of Creativity�Place the steak in the baking dish, add the onion on top and then pour in the remainder of the ingredients. Bake at 250 degrees for around 20 minutes.My thinking? For starters, her title made sense to her, given what she knew about the concept, none of which was self-evident to a buyer. Just as importantly, it was potentially confusing; it could mean a lot of things (i.e. color swatches, history of color, etc.). Finally, it didn�t explain what the book was and didn�t begin to really do justice to the book�s mission. I suggested something I felt was more descriptive of that mission:You will not find many recipes that tell you how you to cook Swiss steak on top of the stove, but it can be done.Some time back, I got an email from an ebook author who wanted a blurb for his upcoming book on writing. I couldn�t help but notice that his title seemed a bit weak. The book was about getting past the obstacles that most fiction writers encounter on the way to finishing their books. The original title was:Her rationale: color and choice of color were fundamental to a child�s artistic development (and the book was so colorful). I questioned the main title, even though she hadn�t asked me to critique it, and in fact, considered it set in stone.The Field Guide to Creativity:You can always add just a bit more tomato sauce or even a small amount of water if needed.

Can�t land a publisher? Do it yourself, and make a living from it! Check out a free report on self-publishing at www.wellfedsp.com, home of author Peter Bowerman�s award-winning 2007 release, The Well-Fed Self-Publisher: How to Turn One Book into a Full-Time Living.

Author: Peter Bowerman

Keep Your Kitchen Cool with These Hot Crock Pot Recipes

Crock Pot recipes can make the end of a long day easy. Give your oven a rest, and keep your kitchen cool this summer with these easy crockpot meals.

BEANIE WEENIES

This crockpot recipe is a simple kid pleaser! Great to have after a long work day.

2 (28.00 ounces) cans pork and beans
1 (16.00 ounces) can pork and beans
1 (1.00 lb) package hot dog, halved lengthwise and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons prepared mustard
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

In a crockpot, combine all ingredients; mix well.

Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours.


CHILI CHEESE TACO DIP

1 lb. hamburger
1 can chili (no beans)
1 lb. mild Mexican Velveeta cheese, cubed or shredded

Brown hamburger; drain and place in slow cooker. Add chili and cheese; cover and cook on low until cheese is melted, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally to blend ingredients. Serve warm with taco or tortilla chips.


CHEESY SHRIMP PASTA

1 (2 pound) block Velveeta cheese
1 (16 ounce) carton half-and-half
1 (10 ounce) can Ro-Tel tomatoes
1 small onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound raw shrimp
Cooked pasta of choice

Place cheese, half-and-half, Ro-tel tomatoes, onion and garlic in crockpot. Cook on LOW for 4 hours.

Add shrimp and cook for 30 minutes longer.


CROCK POT CARAMEL RUM FONDUE

7 ounces Caramels
1/4 cup Miniature marshmallows
1/3 cup Whipping cream
2 teaspoons Rum or 1/4 tsp rum extract

Combine caramels and cream in Crock Pot. Cover and heat until melted, 30 to 60 minutes. Stir in marshmallows and rum. Cover and continue cooking 30 minutes.

Serve with apple wedges or pound cake.


APPLE BROWN BETTY

3 lbs. cooking apples
10 slices of bread, cubed (about 4 cups)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. salt
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter or margarine, melted

Wash apples, peel, core, cut into eighths; place in bottom of crockpot. Combine bread cubes, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, sugar, butter; toss together. Place on top of apples in crock. Cover. Place crock into outer shell. Cook on low setting 2 to 4 hours.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Hope you enjoy these easy crockpot recipes. Try one at home today!

I guarantee your nose will thank you when you walk into the house to the delicious aromas of a home cooked meal.

Author: Suzanne Webb-Brikas

Vegetarian Recipes - A Way To Eating Healthy

More and more people are choosing to eat a vegetarian diet because they know that veggies are healthful food. Using low calorie and vegetarian recipes is one of the most important things you can do to protect your heath and the health of your family since obesity is now an epidemic in the United States and other developed countries. Cooking them is still better than the alternatives to a vegetarian lifestyle or a vegan lifestyle, but we receive the most nutritional benefit from ingesting whole and organic raw foods. They will often include many of the vitamins, minerals, and sources of nutrition that every body needs. These low calorie recipes, usually high in fiber, protect against digestive disorders such as diverticulosis and may offer protection from colon and lung cancers. Many low calorie and vegetarian recipes use soy, tofu, dried beans and peas to add protein to meals. Using low calorie recipes will provide a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, grains and legumes, adding high amounts of all the essential vitamins and minerals. Subscribing to vegetarian magazines, scouring newspaper food sections, and visiting veggie websites will bring you a respectable number of recipes, but it's more convenient to have hundreds and hundreds in one place.

How does a Slow Cooker speed up your meal times? Take five minutes in the morning to drop a chicken and some spices into your slow cooker, set it on low and get to work. When you get home in the evening, your meal will be cooked to perfection and ready to serve. All you have to do is set the table and dish it up! Choose a Slow Cooker with easy cleanup features like a dishwasher safe removable insert and save even more time.Cooking Faster � Or Slower

Exploring vegetarian recipes is great simply to spice up the kitchen with something new. Whether you are choosing to eat vegetarian dishes as a permanent diet or as part of a healthier lifestyle, Vegetarian Recipes is packed with ideas to tempt the most committed carnivore.

Author: Kelvin Hall